Pediatric Primary Care Clinicians' Perspectives on Telemedicine Use, 2020 Versus 2021.

Objective: We examined the change in pediatric primary care clinician attitudes and perceptions about telemedicine after one year of telemedicine use. Methods: We administered a survey to pediatric primary care clinicians across 50 primary care practices in Pennsylvania in 2020 and 2021. Surveys were linked using a combination of deterministic and probabilistic matching. We used McNemar's test to compare change in responses from 2020 to 2021. Results: Among pediatric primary care clinicians surveyed in 2020 and 2021 (n = 101), clinicians agreed that telemedicine could always or usually deliver high-quality care for mental health (80% in 2020 and 78% in 2021), care coordination (77% in 2020 and 70% in 2021), acute care (33% in 2020 and 34% in 2021), or preventive care (25% in 2020 and 18% in 2021) and this did not significantly change. Clinician perceptions of usability, while high, declined over time with fewer endorsing ease of use (93% in 2020 and 80% in 2021) and reliability (14% in 2020 and 0% in 2021) over time. Despite this, 62% of clinicians agreed that they were satisfied with their use of telemedicine at both time points. Respondents anticipated positive impact on equity and timeliness of care from telemedicine use but did not anticipate positive impact across child health, health care delivery, or clinician experience. Perceptions across these domains did not change over time. Conclusions: With one year of telemedicine experience, primary care clinicians maintained beliefs that telemedicine could deliver high-quality care for specific clinical needs but had worsening perceptions of usability over time.

A Prospective Cohort of Alcohol Use and Alcohol-related Problems Before and After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To describe alcohol use, alcohol-related harm, and alcohol-related problems preoperatively and up to 8 years following metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in adolescents. BACKGROUND: Risk for alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUD) increases post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy in adults. However, data are lacking in adolescents who undergo MBS. METHODS: This study includes 217 adolescents (aged 13-19 y) enrolled in a 5-center prospective cohort study who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (2007-2011) and reported alcohol use preoperatively and annually postoperatively for up to 8 years. Time to elevated Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score, alcohol-related harm, and alcohol-related problems were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier estimates of cumulative incidence. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the median age was 17 years; the median body mass index was 51 kg/m 2 . Alcohol use frequency and average quantity of drinks per drinking day increased postoperatively (2% consumed alcohol 2-4 times/month 6 months versus 24% 8 years postoperatively, P <0.001; 2% consumed≥3 drinks per drinking day 6 months versus 35% 8 years postoperatively, P <0.001). Cumulative incidence of postoperative onset elevated AUDIT-C score, alcohol-related harm, and alcohol-related problems at year 8 were 45% (95% CI:37-53), 43% (95% CI:36-51), and 47% (95% CI:40-55), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of those who underwent MBS as adolescents screened positively for AUD, symptoms of alcohol-related harm, or alcohol-related problems 8 years post-MBS, highlighting the risk for alcohol use and AUD after MBS in adolescents. AUD evaluation and treatment should be integrated into routine long-term care for adolescents undergoing MBS.

Scheduled and attended pediatric primary care telemedicine appointments during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine pediatric primary care telemedicine visit scheduling and attendance during the first year of telemedicine. METHODS: Using electronic health record data from two academic pediatric primary care practices between April 2020-March 2021, we used Pearson χ2 tests and logistic regression models to identify child-, family-, and appointment-level characteristics associated with scheduled and attended telemedicine appointments. RESULTS: Among 5178 primary care telemedicine appointments scheduled during the 12-month period, the proportion of appointments scheduled differed over time for children in families with a language preference other than English or Spanish (4% quarter 1 vs. 6% in quarter 4, p = 0.01) and residing in ZIP codes with the lowest household technology access (24% in quarter 1 vs. 19% in quarter 3 (p = 0.01). Four thousand one hundred and forty-eight of 5178 scheduled telemedicine appointments were attended. Likelihood of attending a telemedicine appointment was highest for children in families with a language preference other than English or Spanish (90%, 95% CI 86-94% compared to Spanish 74%, 95% CI 65-84%), and same-day appointments (86%, 95% CI 85-87%). Attendance among families preferring Spanish language was higher in later months compared to earlier months. CONCLUSIONS: We found disparities in scheduling and attending telemedicine appointments, but signs of greater language equity over time.

Long-term Satisfaction with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: Results From a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine change in overall satisfaction with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery over 3 to 7 years post-surgery and identify pre-surgery predictors and post-surgery factors associated with not being satisfied. BACKGROUND: It is unclear how satisfaction with RYGB surgery changes over time following surgery and factors associated with not being satisfied are not well understood. METHODS: Participants of a multicenter prospective cohort study of bariatric surgery were followed annually < 7 years. A total of 1423 participants of the 1770 who underwent RYGB had data on satisfaction with surgery (81% female; median age 47 years; median body mass index 46 kg/m 2 ). RESULTS: The percentage of participants who were not satisfied with RYGB surgery significantly increased from 15.4% 3 years post-surgery to 23.0% 7 years post-surgery ( P = 0.01). Pre-surgery younger age, lower BMI, higher percent weight loss needed to reach dream weight, poorer physical and mental health, and less social support independently predicted higher risk of not being satisfied with surgery. When examining pre- to post-surgery changes, less post-surgery weight loss, worsening physical and mental health status, less social support, and greater depressive symptomology were associated with higher risk of not being satisfied with surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Level of satisfaction with RYGB surgery significantly decreased 3 to 7 years following surgery. Several pre- and post-surgery characteristics were associated with not being satisfied with surgery and provide potentially useful insight into individual patient experiences following RYGB. Knowledge of these characteristics may be useful in communication between surgeons and patients regarding post-surgical expectations and the impact of surgery on patients' lives.

Associations Between Physical Activity and Changes in Depressive Symptoms and Health-related Quality of Life Across 7 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of objectively-measured free-living physical activity (PA) with changes in depressive symptoms and mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over 7 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB). BACKGROUND: The contributions of PA to improvements in mental and physical health after RYGB, independent of weight loss, are unclear. METHODS: Adults undergoing RYGB in a US multi-center cohort study wore an activity monitor and completed the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) annually ≤7 years (N = 646; 78% female, median age 47 years, median body mass index 46kg/m 2 ). Linear mixed models estimated associations of quartiles of steps, sedentary behavior (SB), and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), respectively, with pre-to-post-surgery changes in the BDI and SF-36 mental component summary and physical component summary scores, respectively, over 1-7 years post-surgery, with adjustment for sex, age, race, pre-surgerybody mass index, the respective pre-surgery score, treatment for depression (time-varying) and pre-to-post-surgery weight change (time-varying). RESULTS: There were dose-response associations between steps, SB (inverse) and MVPA quartiles, respectively, with improvements in each score. Across follow-up, mean improvements in the BDI, Mental Component Summary and physical component summary scores, were 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-2.8], 3.1 (95% CI, 1.5-4.7), and 4.0 (95% CI, 2.7-5.4) points higher, respectively, in the highest versus lowest steps quartile. CONCLUSION: Among adults who underwent RYGB, multiple objective PA measures were associated with decreases in depressive symptoms and improvements in mental and physical HRQoL throughout 7 years, independent of weight loss, indicating PA is a modifiable behavior to augment outcomes.

Associations Between Physical Activity and Changes in Weight Across 7 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of objectively-measured physical activity (PA) with changes in weight after roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) over 7 years. BACKGROUND: The contribution of free-living PA to surgery-induced weight loss and subsequent weight regain is not well understood. METHODS: Participants of a multi-center prospective cohort study of bariatric surgery were followed annually ≥7 years. Of 807 participants who underwent RYGB and were given an activity monitor, 649 (80%) had sufficient data for this report (78% female; median age 47 years; median body mass index 46 kg/m2). Mean daily steps, hours/day in SB and minutes/week in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were determined at each assessment. Mixed models tested associations between PA measures and weight outcomes, controlling for sociodemographics, health status, and eating behaviors. RESULTS: Across follow-up, mean pre to postsurgery changes in PA were small, and mean postsurgery PA level was below PA recommendations for health (eg, 101 MVPA min/week 7 years postsurgery versus the ≥150 MVPA min/week recommendation). There was a dose-response association between more steps, less SB and more MVPA with greater weight loss. Steps and SB, but not MVPA, were also associated with weight regain. For example, participants in the highest versus lowest steps quartile lost 2.9% (95% confidence interval, 1.8-4.1) more of their presurgery weight and regained 5.4% (95% confidence interval, 2.4-8.3) less of their maximum weight lost across follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Despite only small increases in objectively-measured PA level after RYGB, PA level was independently associated with weight outcomes of bariatric surgery throughout 7 years of follow-up. REPRINTS: Reprints will not be available from the authors.

Changes in Smoking Behavior Before and After Gastric Bypass: A 7-year Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate smoking history and change in smoking behavior, from 1 year before through 7 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, and to identify risk factors for post-surgery smoking. BACKGROUND: Smoking behavior in the context of bariatric surgery is poorly described. METHODS: Adults undergoing RYGB surgery entered a prospective cohort study between 2006 and 2009 and were followed up to 7 years until ≤2015. Participants (N = 1770; 80% female, median age 45 years, median body mass index 47 kg/m2) self-reported smoking history pre-surgery, and current smoking behavior annually. RESULTS: Almost half of participants (45.2%) reported a pre-surgery history of smoking. Modeled prevalence of current smoking decreased in the year before surgery from 13.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 12.1-15.4] to 2.2% (95% CI = 1.5-2.9) at surgery, then increased to 9.6% (95% CI = 8.1-11.2) 1-year post-surgery and continued to increase to 14.0% (95% CI = 11.8-16.0) 7-years post-surgery. Among smokers, mean packs/day was 0.60 (95% CI = 0.44-0.77) at surgery, 0.70 (95% CI = 0.62-0.78) 1-year post-surgery and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.68-0.88) 7-years post-surgery. At 7-years, smoking was reported by 61.7% (95% CI = 51.9-70.8) of participants who smoked 1-year pre-surgery (n = 221), 12.3% (95% CI = 8.5-15.7) of participants who formerly smoked but quit >1 year pre-surgery (n = 507), and 3.8% (95% CI = 2.1-4.9) of participants who reported no smoking history (n = 887). Along with smoking history (ie, less time since smoked), younger age, household income <$25,000, being married or living as married, and illicit drug use were independently associated with increased risk of post-surgery smoking. CONCLUSION: Although most adults who smoked 1-year before RYGB quit pre-surgery, smoking prevalence rebounded across 7-years, primarily due to relapse.

Subdural electrodes versus stereoelectroencephalography for pediatric epileptogenic zone localization: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the relative safety and effectiveness of invasive monitoring with subdural electrodes (SDEs) and stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) in pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in 176 patients who underwent invasive monitoring evaluations at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh between January 2000 and September 2021. To examine differences between SDE and sEEG groups, independent-samples t-tests for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square tests for categorical variables were performed. A p value < 0.1 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were 134 patients (76%) in the SDE group and 42 (24%) in the sEEG group. There was a difference in the proportion with complications (17.9% in the SDE group vs 7.1% in the sEEG group, p = 0.09) and resection (75.4% SDE vs 21.4% sEEG, p < 0.01) between SDE and sEEG patients. However, there was no observable difference in the rates of postresection seizure freedom at 1-year clinical follow-up (60.2% SDE vs 75.0% sEEG, p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal a difference in rates of surgical complications and resection between SDEs and sEEG. Larger prospective, multi-institutional pediatric comparative effectiveness studies may further explore these associations.

Alcohol Use Thresholds for Identifying Alcohol-related Problems Before and Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of potential thresholds of alcohol use for identifying alcohol-related problems in women post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that RYGB alters alcohol pharmacokinetics and is associated with an increased risk for alcohol-related problems, the level of alcohol use that should prompt further screening for alcohol-related problems following RYGB is unclear. METHODS: The Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 is a prospective cohort study. Before surgery and annually for ≤7 years following surgery, participants completed the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), which assesses past-year frequency and quantity of alcohol, frequency of consuming ≥6 drinks, and alcohol-related problems (ie, symptoms of alcohol dependence and/or alcohol-related harm). The AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score was determined from the first 3 AUDIT items. RESULTS: Post-RYGB, 835 women reported current drinking at 1 or more annual assessment(s). Compared with higher frequency thresholds, drinking ≥2 times/month had the highest combined sensitivity (85.3%) and specificity (61.4%) for identifying alcohol-related problems. Compared with higher quantity thresholds, drinking ≥3 drinks/drinking day had the highest combined sensitivity (64.2%) and specificity (87.2%). An AUDIT-C score ≥3, versus other thresholds, had the highest combined sensitivity (76.4%) and specificity (81.6%). CONCLUSION: The sensitivity and specificity of these thresholds indicate assessment of alcohol consumption alone may be inadequate for identifying women at risk for alcohol-related problems post-RYGB. Additional screening tools for alcohol-related problems, which assess symptoms of alcohol-related problems, should be conducted in this population.

Do Associations Between Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder Vary by Weight Status? Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.

BACKGROUND: Understanding whether the associations between alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD) differ by weight status may be useful in screening for AUD in populations where obesity is common. We aimed to determine whether the associations between alcohol use and AUD differ by weight status. METHODS: A total of 24,869 adult participants of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III with a body mass index ≥18.5 kg/m2 who reported past-year alcohol use were included. The AUD and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-5 were administered to identify past-year AUD. Logistic regression was used to test the associations between weight status and levels and patterns of alcohol use with AUD; interactions between weight status and alcohol use variables in relation to AUD were examined. Analyses were stratified by gender. RESULTS: For males and females, the odds of AUD were higher with greater frequency of any alcohol use and heavy drinking, higher average quantity of drinks per drinking day, and past-year high-risk drinking. Among males, at the same average quantity of drinks per drinking day, frequency of heavy drinking, or presence of high-risk drinking, those with class 3 obesity had higher odds of AUD versus lower classes or no obesity (p for all interactions <0.01). Among females, at the same frequency of any alcohol use, those with healthy weight had the highest odds of AUD, while females with class 3 obesity had the lowest odds of AUD (p for interaction <0.001); interactions between weight status and other alcohol use variables were not significant (p ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The associations between some measures of alcohol use and AUD differed by weight status, with inconsistent results between males and females. Alcohol use thresholds typically used in AUD screening may be too high in males with class 3 obesity.

Eating pathology and experience and weight loss in a prospective study of bariatric surgery patients: 3-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgery results in significant long-term weight loss, albeit with considerable variability. This study examines the prognostic significance of eating pathology as determined by a structured interview, the Eating Disorder Examination-Bariatric Surgery Version (EDE-BSV). METHOD: Participants (N = 183) in this substudy of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Research Consortium were assessed using the EDE-BSV, independent of clinical care, presurgery and annually postsurgery. We examined eating pathology and experiences at several frequency thresholds (present, ≥ monthly, ≥ weekly) over 3 years, and utilized mixed models to test their associations with percentage weight loss from baseline at years 1, 2, and 3. RESULTS: The prevalence of several forms of eating pathology declined pre- to 1-year postsurgery, including ≥weekly objective bulimic episodes (11.6-1.3%), loss of control (LOC) eating (18.3-6.2%) and picking/nibbling (36.0-20.2%) (P for all <0.01), and regular evening hyperphagia (16.5-5.0%, P = 0.01), but not cravings (P = 0.93). Mean EDE global score, and hunger and enjoyment scores, also declined (P for all <0.01). These metrics remained lower than baseline through year-3 (P for all <0.01). Presurgery eating variables were not related to weight loss (P for all ≥0.05). However, postsurgery higher EDE global score and greater hunger were independently associated with less weight loss postsurgery (P for both ≤0.01), while cravings were associated with greater weight loss (P = 0.03). DISCUSSION: Pathological eating behaviors and experiences are common presurgery and improve markedly following surgery. Postsurgery pathological eating-related experiences and attitudes and hunger may contribute to suboptimal weight loss. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:1058-1067).

Work-related asthma­22 states, 2012.

Work-related asthma (WRA) is a preventable occupational disease associated with serious adverse health outcomes. Using the 2006-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Adult Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) data from 38 states and the District of Columbia, CDC estimated that among ever-employed adults with current asthma, the proportion of current asthma that is work-related was 9.0%. In 2011, the BRFSS cellular telephone samples were added to the traditional landline telephone samples and the weighting methodology was changed. In 2012, a revised ACBS question on WRA diagnosis was asked. To provide updated estimates of current asthma prevalence and the proportion of asthma that is work-related, by state, CDC analyzed data from BRFSS and ACBS collected from 22 states using both landline and cellular telephone samples during 2012. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that 9.0% of adults had current asthma and that among ever-employed adults with current asthma, the overall proportion of current asthma that is work-related was 15.7%. State-specific proportions of asthma that is work-related ranged from 9.0% to 23.1%. Distribution of the proportion of WRA significantly differed by age and was highest among persons aged 45-64 years (20.7%). These findings provide a new baseline after the implementation of changes in survey methodology and the adoption of a revised WRA question. These results can assist states, other government agencies, health professionals, employers, workers, and worker representatives to better target intervention and prevention efforts to reduce the burden of WRA.

Silicosis mortality trends and new exposures to respirable crystalline silica - United States, 2001-2010.

Silicosis is a preventable occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust and can progress to respiratory failure and death. No effective specific treatment for silicosis is available; patients are provided supportive care, and some patients may be considered for lung transplantation. Chronic silicosis can develop or progress even after occupational exposure has ceased. The number of deaths from silicosis declined from 1,065 in 1968 to 165 in 2004. Hazardous occupational exposures to silica dust have long been known to occur in a variety of industrial operations, including mining, quarrying, sandblasting, rock drilling, road construction, pottery making, stone masonry, and tunneling operations. Recently, hazardous silica exposures have been newly documented during hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells and during fabrication and installation of engineered stone countertops. To describe temporal trends in silicosis mortality in the United States, CDC analyzed annual multiple cause-of-death data for 2001-2010 for decedents aged ≥15 years. During 2001-2010, a total of 1,437 decedents had silicosis coded as an underlying or contributing cause of death. The annual number of silicosis deaths declined from 164 (death rate† = 0.74 per 1 million population) in 2001 to 101 (0.39 per 1 million) in 2010 (p = 0.002). Because of new operations and tasks placing workers at risk for silicosis, efforts to limit workplace exposure to crystalline silica need to be maintained.

Patient-physician communication about work-related asthma: what we do and do not know.

BACKGROUND: Effective patient-physician communication is the key component of the patient-physician relationship. OBJECTIVE: To assess the proportion of ever-employed adults with current asthma who talked about asthma associated with work with their physician or other health professional and to identify factors associated with this communication. METHODS: The 2006 to 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-Back Survey data from 40 states and the District of Columbia for ever-employed adults (≥18 years old) with current asthma (N = 50,433) were examined. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with communication with a health professional about asthma and work. RESULTS: Among ever-employed adults with current asthma, 9.1% were ever told by a physician that their asthma was related to any job they ever had and 11.7% ever told a physician or other health professional that this was the case. When responses to the 2 questions were combined, the proportion of those who communicated with a health professional about asthma and work was 14.7%. Communication with a health professional about asthma and work was associated with age, race or ethnicity, employment, education, income, insurance, and urgent treatment for worsening asthma. CONCLUSION: A small proportion of patients with asthma might communicate with a health professional about asthma associated with work. Future studies should examine whether patients with asthma ever discussed with a health professional the possibility that their asthma might be related to work to provide information on the frequency of patient-clinician communication about asthma related to work.

Employed adults with asthma who have frequent workplace exposures.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Objective: The recent increase in asthma prevalence is thought to be partially due to environmental changes such as changes in air pollution and occupational exposures. Nationally representative information on workplace exposures among US adults with asthma is limited. METHODS: We examined 2010 National Health Interview Survey data to determine the proportion of employed adults with asthma who had frequent workplace exposures. RESULTS: Among adults with current asthma, 19.6% frequently worked outdoors, 17.5% were frequently exposed to workplace secondhand smoke and 28.1% were frequently exposed to workplace vapors, gas, dust or fumes. Adults ever told by a health professional that asthma is probably work-related, when compared to adults who were not, had increased odds of frequent work outdoors [prevalence odds ratio (POR)=2.76], frequent workplace exposure to secondhand smoke (POR=3.08) and frequent workplace exposure to vapors, gas, dust or fumes (POR=3.56). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first population-based study in USA that estimates the proportion of working adults with asthma that have frequent workplace exposures. Increasing the understanding of workplace exposures among adults with asthma will help enable prevention of asthma through workplace exposure reduction or avoidance. Future studies should further examine industries and occupations of individuals with asthma and frequent workplace exposures.

Isocyanates and work-related asthma: Findings from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey, 1993-2008.

BACKGROUND: Isocyanates remain a leading cause of work-related asthma (WRA). METHODS: Two independent data systems were analyzed for the period 1993-2008: (1) State-based WRA case surveillance data on persons with isocyanate-induced WRA from four states, and (2) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) isocyanate air sampling results. RESULTS: We identified 368 cases of isocyanate-induced WRA from 32 industries and 678 OSHA isocyanate air samples with detectable levels from 31 industries. Seventeen industries were unique to one or the other dataset. CONCLUSION: Isocyanate-induced WRA continues to occur in a wide variety of industries. Two data systems uncovered industries with isocyanate exposures and/or illness. Improved control measures and standards, including medical surveillance, are needed. More emphasis is needed on task-specific guidance, spill clean-up procedures, skin and respiratory protection, and targeted medical monitoring to mitigate the hazards of isocyanate use.

Gender differences in work-related asthma: surveillance data from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey, 1993-2008.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize work-related asthma by gender. METHODS: We analyzed state-based sentinel surveillance data on confirmed work-related asthma cases collected from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey during 1993-2008. We used Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Test statistics to compare select characteristics between females and males. RESULTS: Of the 8239 confirmed work-related asthma cases, 60% were female. When compared to males with work-related asthma, females with work-related asthma were more likely to be identified through workers' compensation (14.8% versus 10.6%) and less likely to be identified through hospital data (14.2% versus 16.9%). Moreover, when compared to males, females were more likely to have work-aggravated asthma (24.4% versus 13.5%) and less likely to have new-onset asthma (48.0% versus 56.5%). Females were also more likely than males with work-related asthma to work in healthcare and social assistance (28.7% versus 5.2%), educational services (11.8% versus 4.2%), and retail trade (5.0% versus 3.9%) industries and in office and administrative support (20.0% versus 4.0%), healthcare practitioners and technical (13.4% versus 1.6%), and education training and library (6.2% versus 1.3%) occupations. Agent groups most frequently associated with work-related asthma were miscellaneous chemicals (20.3%), cleaning materials (15.3%), and indoor air pollutants (14.9%) in females and miscellaneous chemicals (15.7%), mineral and inorganic dusts (13.2%), and pyrolysis products (12.7%) in males. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with work-related asthma, males and females differ in terms of workplace exposures, occupations, and industries. Physicians should consider these gender differences when diagnosing and treating asthma in working adults.

Food and alcohol disturbance among people who have undergone bariatric surgery.

There have been numerous investigations of aberrant eating and substance abuse among patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, which affects the metabolism and the pharmacokinetics of alcohol. However, there is a dearth of literature considering the complex interplay between changes in post-surgery food and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, despite the increasing recognition of issues surrounding replacing food consumption with alcohol consumption (Food and Alcohol Disturbance [FAD]), most emerging research has focused on young adult populations. This perspective reviews and synthesizes the small but growing body of research on the interplay between food and alcohol consumption, particularly FAD, and considers its application to bariatric surgery in general. There are unique considerations for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Patients experience altered gastric anatomy, which affects food and alcohol metabolism, and are advised to abstain from drinking alcohol after surgery. After reviewing the available literature, this perspective highlights future directions for research and practice in bariatric surgery.

The impact of inclusive mentoring and identity work on self-efficacy in career advancement and career commitment among underrepresented early-career faculty and post-doctoral fellows.

Objective: Researchers from underrepresented groups leave research positions at a disproportionate rate. We aim to identify factors associated with self-efficacy in career advancement and career commitment among underrepresented post-doctoral fellows and early-career faculty. Methods: Building Up is a cluster-randomized trial with 25 academic health institutions. In September-October 2020, 219 Building Up participants completed the pre-intervention assessment, which included questions on demographics, science identity, mentoring, self-efficacy in career advancement (i.e., advancement is open to me, confidence in career progression, confidence in overcoming professional barriers), and career commitment (i.e., intent to continue research training or studying in a field related to biomedical sciences). Using logistic and multinomial logistic regression, we identified characteristics independently associated with self-efficacy in career advancement and career commitment. Results: The cohort is 80% female, 33% non-Hispanic/Latinx Black, and 34% Hispanic/Latinx. Having mentors that address diversity was significantly associated with the belief that advancement is open to them (OR = 1.7). Higher science identity (OR = 4.0) and having mentors that foster independence (OR = 1.8) were significantly associated with confidence in career progression. Higher science identity was also significantly associated with confidence in overcoming professional barriers (OR = 2.3) and intent to continue studying in a field related to biomedical sciences (OR = 3.3). Higher age (OR = 2.3) and higher science identity (OR = 4.2) were significantly associated with intent to continue research training. Discussion: Science identity and mentoring play key roles in self-efficacy in career advancement and career commitment. These factors may contribute to retention of underrepresented early-career biomedical researchers.

Work-related asthma and employment status--38 states and District of Columbia, 2006-2009.

OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in current employment status between persons with health professional-diagnosed work-related asthma and non-work-related asthma and to examine factors associated with unemployment in these groups. METHODS: We analyzed the 2006-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey for ever-employed adults (excluding those who were retired, homemakers and students at the time of the interview) with current asthma in 38 states and District of Columbia (N = 25,680). We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income. RESULTS: Among adults with current asthma, individuals with work-related asthma were less likely to be currently employed for wages (PR = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84-0.95) and more likely to be unable to work (PR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.24-1.67) than those with non-work-related asthma. Among adults with current asthma who were unemployed at the time of the interview, adults with work-related asthma did not differ from those with non-work-related asthma in naming disability as reason for unemployment (PR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.94-1.26). However, those with work-related asthma were more likely to be unable to work for health reasons other than disability (PR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.01-2.12) than adults with non-work-related asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies are needed to determine what health reasons prevent individuals with work-related asthma from working and if the health reasons are asthma-related.